Sustainable Development in Government 2008: Challenges for Government
Article Type: Feature From: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Volume 10, Issue 4
This report, recently published by the UK Sustainable Development Commission calls on the government to set more ambitious targets for improving sustainability on the government estate in order to lead by example and contribute to UK-wide targets on climate change and resource depletion.
Sustainable Development in Government 2008: Challenges for Government finds that despite significant steps towards reducing waste, water consumption and emissions from road travel, government departments are still not on course to meet their own target for reducing carbon emissions and by 12.5 per cent, and far more remains to be done if they are to make a real contribution towards meeting UK-wide targets for 80 per cent emissions reductions by 2050. Future sustainability targets for government operations are currently under consideration with many deadlines on current targets expiring in the next two to three years.
The report also finds that recent initiatives – including the creation of a Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement in 2008 – have set the groundwork for departments to begin to meet much more challenging targets in line with the latest understanding of environmental challenges, including climate change. The report also finds that there is an urgent need for a greater understanding of the full range of environmental, social and economic impacts of government operations.
Further details can be seen at: www.sd-commission.org.uk/news.php/239/main/sustainable-development-in-government-2008
